The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-16


ing it, is a decided arrangement of the
coats of the arteries. The walls of
of these blood-vessels, in a state of
health, are firm and elastic, and their
power of recoil is a necessity to a per-
feet, healthy circulation of the blood.
These strong, resilient coats become
thin and dilated, or else brittle from
the deposit of lime-like substance in
stead of the proper fiber. A little I'M
due pressure then may cause rupture
of the walls, and sudden death at once
results.
Of course the brain and nervous
system suffer. The brain itself is
hardened by the use of alcohol, be-
cause it contains much albumen, and
alcohol will harden it as it will the
white of an egg. Mental vigor is de-
stroyed. The entire nervous system is
subject to long train of grave disor-
ders from the use of this poison. We
only refer to that terrible nervous de-
rangement called mania q pOtU, and
delirium tremens, that horror of all
horrors, to call to mind the danger to.
any one of q nervous temperament
from indulgence in rum. Another
nervous ngement-insomnia, or
! sleeplessness-is one of the distressing
results of alcohol. During natural
sleep there is reduced supply of blood
in the brain, and this reduced supply,
from the altered action of the heart
and blood vessels, is not granted to the.
alcoholic.
These evils come slowly. The habit
ual drinker finds alcohol-rum in some
form-a daily necessity. He awakes
in the morning unrefreshed, and pre-
fers a morning dram to his breakfast.
As the day advances the nervous sys-
tenn feels feeble, the mind is dull, the
muscles grow tired, and another drink
is required. The action is followed by
reaction and after the glow has sub
sided and the artificial strength is ex-
pended, the same necessity occurs
again, and thus it goes, the alcohol
taking the place of food, the natural
nourishment of the body. Hundreds,
of thousands of people are living in
this unnatural way.
The irritation of the stomach pro-
duces dyspeptic symptoms among the
very first effects of habitual drinking.
The stomach and entire alimentary
canal are surcharged with gas and an
noying tlatulency results The bow
els become irregular. The kidneys do
not secrete naturally, sometimes act
ING too much and at other times too.
little. Sleep also becomes irregular,
at one time an overpowering stupor-
at night occurring, or else being def
cient, resulting in a nervous, irrita-
bic condition by day and wakeful
worrying feeling at night.
The skin soon shows the evil effects
of alcohol. The caliber of the small
blood-vessels being so frequently con-
tracted and relaxed, they lose their
suf'used eye, pimply eruptions, clammy
skin, sometimes dry and again COW
cred with profuse perspiration, soon
marks the drinking man among his
| fellows.
One of the inevitable attendants of
indulgence in alcohol is thirst that is
constant. Alcohol has great natural
affinity for water, and the tissues of
the body that are soaked with alcohol
keep requiring an inordinate supply.
Such a body naturally deteriorates,
grows gross, its secretory organs are
overtaXed, its stomach distended, its
heart enfeebled, its muscles relaxed,
and the whole nervous system loses
its tone and activity. Such man
feels every change in the weather, and
suffers readily from equity, rheumatic
and neuralgia pains. His whole sys-
tenn is relaxed, and his life is liable to
be suddenly snuffed out by some acute
disease. Pneumonia, the most fatal of
all diseases, and one that has the high
est percentage of mortalities except
consumption, rarely, if ever, spares the
| habtual drinker.
We might go on indefinitely par
ticularizing these things. 1t is evil
dent, from what has been said, that
alcohol, by the grave disorders to
which it gives rise, opens the door to
an infinite train of disease. Toledo
Blade.